Ray is a 49-year-old man who was born in regional Victoria. He had a happy childhood and was raised by two amazing loving parents. He is the middle boy of three brothers. Ray moved to Cobram as a baby and the family subsequently moved to Ballarat when he was just two years old. Ray attended a small local church school and enjoyed a happy childhood.

The next step on Ray’s journey was working for a local business manufacturing brake pads which lasted for eleven years.

Redundancy prompted Ray to find work in Melbourne working as a car and truck detailer from 2010. Ray speaks fondly of this role which enabled him to work closely with his brother who worked for a different Melbourne branch of his company. The job was interesting and varied offering interstate travel and a diverse range of duties with each new day offering fresh challenges.

After six years in the job Ray had to end the role due to his father becoming ill and this was the beginning of a tempestuous period for him. He took on the role of full-time carer during this challenging period helping his beloved father to overcome severe pneumonia and a blood clot on the lung. Ray then faced his own health adversities and underwent some major surgeries which he thankfully came through well. Not long after his own recovery Ray’s father got sick again, this final battle with prostate cancer lasted for nine months and Ray was by his beloved fathers side aiding him until the end.
After grieving for his father, Ray’s tremendous work ethic once again kicked in and he decided he was going to find something to do with himself. He signed up for various job agencies and one of these consultants recommended he go and see Jan at the Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre (BNC).

Ray described Jan as ,”One of the best ladies I’ve ever worked alongside”. She helped him update his resume to what he described as ‘A Grade, special quality’. This helped him to appear attractive to prospective employers. She also helped him with onsite work ready short courses as well as enabling him to acquire his RSA.

Ray used this ticket to gain some experience behind the bar at his local bowling club where he has been a member for 25 years. This led to shifts helping-out which consequently earned Ray a glowing written references from the GM of the club. Ray wanted to add Jan has become an instrumental figure in his life going above and beyond her advisory role to offer sound professional and personal mentoring assisting with a multitude of different issues.

Ray attributes the intervention of BNC as having a big contribution to his recent successes in life. Presently Ray is employed as a delivery driver, delivering diary products all around Victoria. He works three twelve-hour days driving 600 km a day, he loves this role as it allows him to do ‘5 days’ worth of work in 3 days’ allowing him to pursue his active social life on his days off.

Through his BNC courses Ray gained many social contacts, many of whom he keeps in contact with.

We know the journey towards a destination is as important as the destination itself. Regardless of how you Connect with us, we will travel this journey with you; sharing your highs and lows, the good and the bad times, and working with you to help you Learn and Participate.

This story was captured by John in December 2023 as a student placement project for his Bachelor of Community and Human Services degree. Names may be changed.